Articulated typewriter frame

ABSTRACT

The printer and keyboard of a typewriter are supported on independent frames by articulated connections that enable a wide variety of different relationships between the keyboard position and the writing line presented to an operator.

United States Patent [191 Kolpek 1 Aug. 20, 1974 ARTICULATED TYPEWRITERFRAME [75] Inventor: Robert A. Kolpek, Lexington, Ky.

[73] Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY.

22 Filed: Oct.2, 1972 21 App1.No.:293,985

[52] US. Cl 197/186 A, 197/19, 197/98 [51] Int. Cl B4lj 29/02 [58] Fieldof Search 197/9, 12, 13, 14, 19, 197/98, 186 R, 186 A, 186 B, 6.1;276/7;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 443,977 12/1890 Sthreshley197/6.1

560,572 5/1896 Davis 197/13 914,741 3/1909 Meier '235/146 X 1,126,2771/1915 Richardson... 197/186 A 1,222,497 4/1917 Tucker 197/186 A1,279,469 9/1918 Smith 276/7 1,355,818 10/1920 Clamecy 197/186 A1,382,789 6/1921 Latta 197/186 A 1,676,809 7/1928 Uhlig 197/186 A2,505,275 4/1950 Borel 197/186 R X 2,540,296 2/1951 Schwend et al......197/186 R X 2,566,971 9/1951 Watson 197/19 3,494,550 2/1970 Hayes et a1.197/98 UX FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,108,958 9/1955 France197/186 A 245,697 9/1946 Switzerland 197/186 A 311,824 2/1956Switzerland 197/186 R Primary ExaminerErnest T. Wright, Jr. Attorney,Agent, or Firm-E. Ronald Coffman 5 7 ABSTRACT The printer and keyboardof a typewriter are supported on independent frames by articulatedconnections that enable a wide variety of different relationshipsbetween the keyboard position and the writing 'line presented to anoperator.

7 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTED M1820!!!" 3.830.352 sum ear 2ARTICULATED TYPEWRITER FRAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION One of thebasic developments in the mechanised typewriter was the achievement of avisible writing line through the use of typing mechanism that wouldprint a character and then move to a position that enabled the operatorto see the character and, if necessary, to make a correction. Theelectric typewriter was a further notable development in enhancing therelationship of the machine to the operator by reducing the manual laborinvolved of operating keys. Also, the electric typewriter gave addedversatility to the typewriter frame configuration since space was notrequired to develop the mechanical advantage so essential to manualtyping. The result of these developments has been a continued evolutionof typewriters having more and more visible writing lines and more andmore comfortable keyboards. For a given machine, however, therelationship between the writing line and the keyboard has beensubstantially fixed. Adjustments to accommodate operators of differentheight and posture have been made primarily in the furniture associatedwith the typewriter. Adjustable chairs and typing stands are common.

While clearly most typing is done at fixed typing stations, whereappropriate furniture is available, it is not at all uncommon foroccasional typing to be done on a table or desk that is neither ofconvenient height nor adjustable. My invention provides a typewriterthat is adjustable to provide an optimum relation of comfort between theoperators hands and the keyboard on the one hand and the operator's eyesand the writing line on the other.

Typewriters having structurally independent printers and keyboards havebeen proposed in the past. For example, US. Pat. No. 2,566,971 shows atypewriter designed particularly for use by a bedridden person andincludes a keyboard that is only electrically connected to thetypewriter printer. While such an arrangement provides the ultimate inversatility of relationships between the keyboard and the writing line,it lacks the convenience of a self-contained unit ordinarily requiredofa typewriter. Accordingly, it has been an object of my invention toprovide a self-contained typewriter having independently supportedprinter and keyboard frames that are adjustable to enable an operator toachieve an optimum comfort relationship with the typewriter. It has beena further object of my invention to provide a typewriter having anarticulated frame structure that enables efficient and comfortabletyping with the typewriter being used in a variety of nonstandardsituations.

These and other objects, features and advantages of my invention will beapparent to those skilled in the art from reading and understanding thefollowing description of a specific preferred embodiment thereof whereinreference is made to the accompanying drawing of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typewriter having articulated printerand keyboard frame supports in accordance with my invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of a pivot connectionemployed in the typewriter shown in FIG. 1 and taken along lines II--IIthereof;

FIG. 3 is a partly broken away side elevational view of the typewritershown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of a holding deviceemployed in the typewriter shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 and taken along lineIVIV thereof;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view partly in cross section of a furtherholding device employed in the typewriter shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of a pivot connectionemployed in the typewriter shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 and taken along lineVIVI thereof;

FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and 10 are side elevational or profile views of thetypewriter shown in FIG. I adjusted to different positions to show itsversatility.

Referring now more specifically to the drawing, in

-FIG. 1 there is shown a typewriter 10 including a printer portion 20, akeyboard portion 30 and a stand 40. A stud or shaft 41 pivotallysupports the printer portion on stand 40 and through support arms 50 and51 also independently supports the keyboard portion 30. Arms 50 and 51are connected by pivot studs 52 to the keyboard portion to enable itsadjustment about an axis 53. Arms 50 and 51 include respective extensionportions 54 and 55 that enable the keyboard portion 30 to be positionedvaried distances from the printer portion 20.

More specifically, the printer portion 20 includes printing mechanismthat can, for example, be like that of the IBM SELECTRIC I/OKeyboardless Printer as described in IBM Customer Engineering UniversalReference Manual Form/Part No. 241-5192-1 published Dec. 1, 1964 byInternational Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, New York. Thisprinter includes a type element 21 that is supported on a printmechanism carrier 22 for lateral movement to define a writing line 23together with suitable power and control mechanism for causing theprinting of characters along the writing line 23. This mechanism issupported within a printer frame 24 and is encased by a cover 25. Theoperations of the printer portion 20 are controlled from electricalimpulses provided on a plurality of wires within a flexible cable 26.

The keyboard portion 30 preferrably can be like that shown in US. Pat.No. 3,494,550 which responds to depression of keybuttons 31 to generatean electrically coded output suitable for controlling the printerportion 20. Flexible cable 26 provides the connection between the outputof keyboard 30 and thecontrol input of the printer portion 20. Thekeyboard 30 includes a keyboard frame 32 (FIG. 6) which providesstructural rigidity. The keyboard 30 is housed in an external cover orcasing 33.

Stand includes at either lateral side edge thereof an upstanding flangeor stand arm 42 only one of which appears in FIGS. land 3. Each pivotstud 41 is rotatably supported by its respective stand arm 42 and isanchored to a lateral side edge of the printer frame 24 by a nut 43, seeFIG. 2, to provide an articulated pivot connection 27 between the stand40 and the printer frame 24.

Each pivot stud 41 also pivotally supports a respective support arm 50or 51 by an articulated bearing connection 56 therein. Thus the printerportion 20 and support arms 50 and 51 are coaxially pivotally supportedby stand 40 for pivoted movement about a common axis 44 for independentadjustment.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, a spring biased pin is carried by the lefthand stand arm 42 for engaging one ofa plurality of detent holes 28 inprinter casing 25 that are concentrically associated with axis 44. Theprinter portion 20 thus can be held in any of several angular positionsrelative to the stand arms 42.

FIG. 5 shows the holding connection between the right hand stand arm 42and support arm 51 that is associated with the right hand pivot stud 41.This connection comprises detent tooth pawl 46 that is slideably carriedby the stand arm 42 for movement radially of the pivot axis 44. A spring47 biases pawl 46 into engagement'with a ratchet or detent wheel 57 thatis secured'by screws 57a to support arm 51. Paw] 46 and teeth 57b ofratchetwheel 57 are preferably configured to prevent counterclockwise ordownward movement of the support arm 51 while permitting clockwise orupward movement thereof. A handle 48 is connected to pawl 46 formanually moving the pawl 46 against its spring 47 to release ratchetwheel 57 to permit either up or down adjustment of arms 50 and S1.

The pivot stud 52 is secured to keyboard frame 32 (FIG. 6) by nut 58 andpivotally receives a bearing portion 59 of arm extension portion 54 todefine an articulated connection therebetween. A friction washer 34supported by keyboard cover mounted boss 35 holds the keyboard portion30 in any of a plurality of angular orientations simply by friction.

Referring now back to FIG. 3 there is shown an enlarged view of the leftsupport arm 50. The extension portion 54 of the support arm 50 isreceived between channel forming flanges 60 and 61 with a sliding fit.If desired, a friction brake can be incorporated within the arms 50 and51 to maintain a positive drag on the extension portions 54 and 55 tohold them in any of a plurality of adjusted positions. A limit stop stud62 engages an internal channel 63 of the extension portion 54 to preventcomplete separation of the extension portion 54 from the flanges 60 and61. OPERATION I The operation of my typewriter can best be understood byreference to FIGS. 7 through 10 which show some of its degrees ofversatility. The typewriter 10 can be adjusted to approximate aconventional electric typewriter by pressing the cover 33 of thekeyboard portion 30 flush up against the cover 25 of the printer portion20. In this position, the typewriter 10 can be adjusted about axis 44 toprovide the operator with a preferred machine orientation as shown inFIG. 7.

A short operator may prefer to adjust the machine as shown in FIG. 8wherein the keyboard portion 30 is .moved outwardly and downwardly to bemore comfortably received by the operator and the printer portion 20 istilted forwardly to more directly present the writing line 23 to theoperators vision. A more extreme version of the position shown in FIG. 8is indicated by phantom lines and would actually place the keyboardportion 30 somewhat under the printer portion 20 and 7 thus make itpossible for a particularly near-sighted operator to be quite close tothe writing line 23.

FIG. 9 shows an adjustment of the typewriter 10 that would accommodatetyping while standing, as for example might be convenient to an operatorworking with the public at a counter where the typewriter 10 is used tocomplete forms. FIG. 10 shows the typewriter 10 adjusted for use by anoperator in a reclining position as might be convenient, for example,for an invalid operator.

All of these examples show the versatility with which my typewriter 10can be adjusted. To achieve the greatest benefit, it is necessary thatboth the keyboard portion 30 and the printer portion 20 be adjustable inorder that the relationship between the typists hands and the line ofvision can be arranged for optimum comfort. Those skilled in the artwill recognize that various additions, deletions and modifications tothe particular illustrative embodiment I have shown can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of my inventive concept. For example, variousforms of locking devices within the skill of the art are suitable foruse in securing the various articulated components of my typewriter 10in their various positions. Also the securing means can be provided onone or both sides of the typewriter 10. Accordingly, the subject mattersought to be patented is to be limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A typewriter having a printer frame supporting character printingmechanism including means defining a writing line, stand means, firstarticulated connection means between said stand means and said printerframe to enable support of said printer frame by said stand means invaried orientations with respect thereto, a keyboard frame supporting aplurality of character selecting keybuttons, control connection meansbetween said keybuttons and said printing mechanism, at least onesupport arm, second articulated connection means between said supportarm and said stand means to enable positioning of said support arm invaried orientations with respect to said stand means, releasable holdingmeans for fixing said support arm in a selected orientation with respectto said stand means so that said support arm extends from said standmeans in cantilever fashion having a free standing end portion, andthird articulated connection means between said keyboard frame and thefree standing end portion of said support arm to enable support of saidkeyboard frame by said support arm in varied orientations with respectthereto.

2. A typewriter as defined in claim 1 wherein said third articulatedconnection means comprises a pivot shaft, and holding means associatedwith said pivot shaft for maintaining said keyboard frame in pluralstable positions relative to said support arm.

3. A typewriter as defined in claim I wherein said support arm furtherincludes an extendable section to enable support of said keyboard frameby said stand means at varied distances from said printer frame.

4. A typewriter as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and secondarticulated connection means comprise coaxial bearings on a common pivotshaft.

5. A typewriter as defined in claim 1 comprising a pair of said supportarms, one of said support arms being supportingly connected between saidstand means and said keyboard frame at each lateral side edge of saidprinter and keyboard frames.

6. A typewriter having a printer frame supporting character printingmechanism, including means defining a writing line and stand means forsupporting said printer frame, a keyboard frame supporting a pluralityof character selection keybuttons, control connection means between saidkeybuttons and said printing mechanism, and wherein the improvementcomprises:

at least one support arm, means operatively connecting said support armbetween said printer frame and said keyboard frame and including firstarticulated connection means between said keyboard in a selectedorientation with respect to said stand means so that said support armserves as a cantilever support for said keyboard frame. 7. A typewriteras defined in claim 6 wherein said support arm further includes anextendable section to enable support of said keyboard frame by saidprinter frame at varied distances from said printer frame.

1. A typewriter having a printer frame supporting character printingmechanism including means defining a writing line, stand means, firstarticulated connection means between said stand means and said printerframe to enable support of said printer frame by said stand means invaried orientations with respect thereto, a keyboard frame supporting aplurality of character selecting keybuttons, control connection meansbetween said keybuttons and said printing mechanism, at least onesupport arm, second articulated connection means between said supportarm and said stand means to enable positioning of said support arm invaried orientations with respect to said stand means, releasable holdingmeans for fixing said support arm in a selected orientation with respectto said stand means so that said support arm extends from said standmeans in cantilever fashion having a free standing end portion, andthird articulated connection means between said keyboard frame and thefree standing end portion of said support arm to enable support of saidkeyboard frame by said support arm in varied orientations with respectthereto.
 2. A typewriter as defined in claim 1 wherein said thirdarticulated connection means comprises a pivot shaft, and holding meansassociated with said pivot shaft for maintaining said keyboard frame inplural stable positions relative to said support arm.
 3. A typewriter asdefined in claim 1 wherein said support arm further includes anextendable section to enable support of said keyboard frame by saidstand means at varied distances from said printer frame.
 4. A typewriteras defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second articulatedconnection means comprise coaxial bearings on a common pivot shaft.
 5. Atypewriter as defined in claim 1 comprising a pair of said support arms,one of said support arms being supportingly connected between said standmeans and said keyboard frame at each lateral side edge of said printerand keyboard frames.
 6. A typewriter having a printer frame supportingcharacter printing mechanism, including means defining a writing lineand stand means for supporting said printer frame, a keyboard framesupporting a plurality of character selection keybuttons, controlconnection means between said keybuttons and said printing mechanism,and wherein the improvement comprises: at least one support arm, meansoperatively connecting said support arm between said printer frame andsaid keyboard frame and including first articulated connection meansbetween said keyboard frame and said support arm to enable support ofsaid keyboard frame by said support arm in varied orientations withrespect thereto, second articulated connection means between saidsupport arm and said printer frame to enable positioning of said supportarm in varied orientations with respect to said printer frame, andreleasable holding means for fixing said support arm in a selectedorientation with respect to said stand means so that said support armserves as a cantilever support for said keyboard frame.
 7. A typewriteras defined in claim 6 wherein said support arm further includes anextendable section to enable support of said keyboard frame by saidprinter frame at varied distances from said printer frame.